Last revised: June 21, 2023
By: Adam Burns
The SD38 series included the original model and later variants including the SD38AC, SD38-2, SD39, and SDL39. The models utilized General Motors' latest prime mover at the time, the model 645, but overall proved to be relatively unsuccessful. Between the SD38 and its variants, including those built for foreign systems, just a little more than 200 examples were manufactured.
However, they were ruggedly built locomotives meant for use in heavy-haul, drag service and many units remain in regular freight service for years.
None are currently known to be preserved with a museum or in operation on an excursion train. However, several remain in operation with both large and small railroads, from Class Is to shortlines.
The SD38 began production in the spring of 1967, the first six-axle model to feature GM's 16-cylinder model 645E3 prime mover.
A somewhat lightly powered C-C design, the SD38 was rated at only 2,000 horsepower but could produce a continuous tractive effort rating of over 82,000 pounds (and 90,000 starting) using GM's D77 traction motors.
This made the locomotive ideal for heavy drag service, particularly in the movement of commodities such as coal and ore.
As such, many buyers of the locomotive moved this type of freight like the Bessemer & Lake Erie, Penn Central, Southern Pacific, Chicago & Illinois Midland, Southern Pacific, and others (lines like the B&LE purchased nearly every variant of the model).
The SD38 was built through the fall of 1971 with only seven railroads purchasing the model, mostly smaller lines or industrial operations (the Penn Central bought the most, 35, numbered 6925-6959).
Ultimately, only 53 SD38s were sold to US railroads. Other lines to purchase the original SD38 included the B&LE (3, numbered 861-863), Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (five, numbered 250-254), Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (6, numbered 650-655), Kaiser Bauxite (4, numbered 5101-5104), and McCloud River Railroad (3, numbered 36-38). Also, Orinoco Mining of Venezuela bought 7, numbered 1021–1027.
However, in 1972 EMD released a variant, the SD38-2 which mostly included upgraded components and the latest computer systems to make the locomotive more efficient (known as the "Dash 2" line the builder cataloged several models in the series the most popular of which was the SD40-2).
The model looked almost identical to the SD40-2 with its long front and aft "porches" which gave the locomotive a length of over 68-feet, three feet longer than the SD38.
It sold a bit better with 81 purchased by US railroads and industries including; BC Hydro (3, numbered 382-384), B&LE (13, numbered 870-879, 890-892), C&IM (6, numbered 70-75), Chicago & North Western (10, numbered 6650-6659), Missabe (5, numbered 209-213), EJ&E (13, numbered 656-668), Louisville & Nashville (5, numbered 4500-4504), McCloud #39, Northern Alberta Railway (4, numbered 401-404), Reserve Mining (9, numbered 1237-1245), Frisco (4, numbered 296-299), SP (6, numbered 2971-2976), U.S. Steel #1, Yankeetown Dock (3, numbered 20-22).
Entered Production | 5/1967 (Bessemer & Lake Erie #861-863) |
Years Produced (SD38) | 5/1967 - 7/1971 |
Years Produced (SD38-2) | 11/1972 - 6/1979 |
Years Produced (SD38AC) | 6/1971 - 7/1971 |
Years Produced (SD39) | 8/1968 - 4/1970 |
Years Produced (SDL39) | 3/1969 - 11/1972 |
Engine | 645E3 |
Engine Builder | GM |
Horsepower | 2000 |
Horsepower (SD39) | 2300 |
RPM | 800 |
Cylinders | 16 |
Cylinders (SD39) | 12 |
Length | 65' 8" |
Length (SD39) | 65' 9" |
Length (SDP38, SD38-2) | 68' 10" |
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab) | 15' 5 ½" |
Width | 10' 4" |
Weight | 360,000 Lbs |
Weight (SDL39) | 250,000 Lbs |
Fuel Capacity | 3200 Gallons |
Fuel Capacity (SDL39) | 1700 Gallons |
Air Compressor | Gardner-Denver |
Air Compressor Model | WBO |
Air Brake Manufacturer | Westinghouse |
Air Brake Schedule | 26L |
Trucks | C-C |
Truck Type | HT-C |
Truck Wheelbase | 13' 7" |
Wheel Size | 40" |
Traction Motors | D77 (6), GM |
Primary Generator | D32, GM |
Primary Generator (SD38-2) | AR10, GM |
Auxiliary Generator | Delco (A8102) |
Steam Generator (SDP38) | Vapor-Clarkson (model AR4125) |
Alternator | D14 |
MU (Multiple-Unit) | Yes |
Dynamic Brakes | Yes |
Gear Ratio | 59:15 |
Tractive Effort (Starting) | 90,000 Lbs at 25% |
Tractive Effort (Starting) | 82,800 Lbs at 25% (SDL39) |
Tractive Effort (Continuous) | 82,100 Lbs at 6.6 mph |
Tractive Effort (Continuous) | 82,100 Lbs at 8 mph |
Top Speed | 95 mph |
Total Built = 108
Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 861-863 | 33053-33055 | 7986 | 5/1967 |
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton | 250-252 | 34863-34865 | 7161 | 7/1969-8/1969 |
McCloud River | 36-38 | 34880-34882 | 7167 | 5/1969 |
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 650-654 | 36141-36145 | 7243 | 1/1970-2/1970 |
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 655 | 36163 | 7243 | 2/1970 |
Penn Central | 6925-6959 | 36406-36440 | 7264 | 5/1970 |
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton | 253-254 | 36872-36873 | 7330 | 7/1971 |
Export
Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Order Number(s) | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kaiser Bauxite (Jamaica) | 5101 | 31609 | 710498 | 6/1966 |
Central Railway of Brazil | 3601-3645 | 32183-32227 | 710636-710680 | 2/1967-4/1967 |
Kaiser Bauxite (Jamaica) | 5102 | 32859 | 710769 | 2/1967 |
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) | 1021-1023 | 32964-32966 | 710832-710834 | 4/1967 |
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) | 1024-1027 | 36830-36833 | 711667-711670 | 8/1970 |
Kaiser Bauxite (Jamaica) | 5103 | 37077 | 711818 | 6/1971 |
Kaiser Bauxite (Jamaica) | 5104 | 38479 | 712147 | 8/1971 |
Total Built = 90
Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|
Yankeetown Dock Corporation | 20-21 | 5795-1, 5795-2 | 11/1972 |
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 870-878 | 72677-1 thru 72677-9 | 3/1973-5/1973 |
Southern Pacific | 2971-2976 | 72681-1 thru 72681-6 | 4/1973 |
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 656-659 | 73654-1 thru 73654-4 | 1/1974 |
Chicago & Illinois Midland | 70-75 | 74605-1/6 | 5/1974 |
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 879 | 74612-1 | 2/1974 |
McCloud River Railroad | 39 | 74623-1 | 8/1974 |
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range | 209-213 | 74649-1 thru 74649-5 | 3/1975 |
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 890-891 | 74677-1/2 | 4/1975 |
Louisville & Nashville | 4500-4504 | 74679-1 thru 74679-5 | 1/1975 |
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 660-664 | 75602-1 thru 75602-5 | 1/1975 |
Chicago & North Western | 6650-6659 | 75618-1 thru 75618-10 | 1/1975 |
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 665-668 | 756067-1 thru 756067-4 | 11/1975 |
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 892 | 756069-1 | 3/1976 |
U.S. Steel (Cumberland Mine) | 1 | 756078-1 | 12/1975 |
Yankeetown Dock Corporation | 22 | 776049-1 | 12/1978 |
Reserve Mining Company | 1237-1245 | 786142-1 thru 786142-9 | 10/1978 |
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 296-297 | 786187-1, 786187-2 | 6/1979 |
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) | 298-299 | 786199-1, 786199-2 | 6/1979 |
Export
Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
B.C. Hydro & Power Authority (Canada) | 382-383 | 71606-1, 71606-2 | C348 (GMDD) | 12/1972 |
B.C. Hydro & Power Authority (Canada) | 384 | 74614-1 | C367 (GMDD) | 8/1974 |
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) | 1028-1029 | 713290-713291 | 713290-713291 | 10/1974 |
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) | 1030-1032 | 748031-1 thru 748031-3 | 748031 | 6/1976 |
Jari Railway (Brazil) | 10-11 | 778022-1, 778022-2 | 778022 | 6/1978 |
Total Built = 15
Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range | 201-208 | 37069-37076 | 06/71 (5767) | |
Bessemer & Lake Erie | 864-869 | 37703-37708 | 07/71 (7327) | |
B.C. Hydro & Power Authority (Canada) | 381 | 37816 | C340 (GMDD) | 10/1971 |
Total Built = 54
Owner | Road Number(s) | Quantity | Date Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Southern Pacific | 5300-5317 | 33998-34015 | 7110 | 8/1968-10/1968 |
Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern | 40-41 | 34127-34128 | 7119 | 10/1968 |
Illinois Terminal | 2301-2306 | 34883-34888 | 7168 | 5/1969-6/1969 |
Santa Fe | 4000-4011 | 35020-35031 | 7176 | 5/1969 |
Santa Fe | 4012-4019 | 35032-35039 | 7178 | 6/1969 |
Southern Pacific | 5318-5325 | 35815-35822 | 7219 | 4/1970 |
Total Built = 10
Owner | Road Numbers | Serial Numbers | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Road | 581-585 | 34272-34276 | 7135 | 3/1969 |
Milwaukee Road | 586-590 | 7345-1 thru 7345-5 | 72648 | 11/1972 |
SDP38
Total Built = 40
Owner | Road Numbers | Serial Numbers | Order Numbers | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Korean National Railroad | 6351-6390 | 32914-32953 | 710792-710831 | 5/1967-7/1967 |
SD38-2TC
Total Built = 8
Owner | Road Numbers | Serial Numbers | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Orinoco Mining Company (Venezuela) | 1041-1048 | 928793-1 thru 928793-8 | 928793 | 6/1994 |
SDL38
Total Built = 6
Owner | Road Numbers | Serial Numbers | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Saudi Government Railway | 2030-2035 | 20148061-1 thru 20148061-6 | 20148061 | 7/2016-8/2016 |
SDL38-2
Total Built = 6
Owner | Road Numbers | Serial Numbers | Order Number | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Saudi Government Railway | 2004-2009 | 778050-1 thru 778050-6 | 778050 | 8/1978 |
Additionally, another seven sold to foreign operations including two to Jari Railway of Brazil and five to Orinoco Mining. Two other variants of the model was the SDP38 and SD38M.
The former was sold to the Korean National Railways, which purchased 40 and the latter to the Brazil Federal Railways, which purchased 34.
And finally, there was the SD38AC. This locomotive was all but identical to the original except for its AR10 alternator in replace of the standard General Motors model D32 generator allowing the locomotive to produce more tractive effort. Just 15 of these units were sold; six to the B&LE, eight to the Missabe, and one to BC Hydro.
Today, you can still find SD38 and variants in operation on railroads such as the Reading & Northern, Norfolk Southern, B&LE/Canadian National, EJ&E/CN, Western Rail, Iowa Interstate, and CSX Transportation.
Dec 05, 23 01:34 PM
Dec 05, 23 01:11 PM
Dec 05, 23 12:23 PM
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It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website.
It is quite staggering and a must visit!